Explore the Great Outdoors

A 2-day Itinerary to Enjoy the Fresh Air in Flint & Genesee

Flint & Genesee is home to the largest county parks system in the state of Michigan. With over 11,000 acres of county parks, there are plenty of places to explore. From hiking the trails to kayaking and everything in between, Flint & Genesee is a great place for outdoor lovers.

Another great facet in Flint & Genesee is Wolverine Campground, nestled in the northeast part of Genesee County. Wolverine offers the serenity and splendor you’d expect to find far way right in the middle of the state. 

Day One

For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum

The 51-year-old nature preserve, and Level II Accredited arboretum, is a great place to take the family for a morning, or afternoon, of adventure. For-Mar is a former dairy farm donated to the parks system by Forbes and Martha Merkley. Scattered throughout the grounds are meadows, ponds and plenty of trees. 

Amenities at For-Mar include miles of walking and hiking trails, Genesee County’s only barrier free treehouse, a visitor’s center with hands-on experiences with live animals and exhibits on flora and fauna, and its butterfly gardens. 

Stepping Stone Falls & Picnic Area

The place where the Flint River becomes Mott Lake sits a beautiful manmade waterfall known as Stepping Stone Falls. Throughout the area surrounding the falls sits picnic tables for visitors to enjoy a picnic overlooking the falls. 

For those who enjoy walking, running or biking, the Flint River Bike path is accessible from the corner of Carpenter and Bray where a footbridge takes you to the falls. The falls are also accessible from Michigan’s Iron Belle Trail system. 

Day Two

Atlas County Park

Atlas County Park is 150 acres of natural landscape open from 8 a.m. to sunset daily. The area features hiking trails, fishing opportunities on Kearsley Creek and a kayak and canoe launch onto Atlas Millpond. The park is also dog friendly, although it is required to keep pets on a six-foot leash.

Atlas County Park is also accessible via a non-motorized path, Gail Road trail, that leads all the way to downtown Goodrich, a small town located in the southeast part of Genesee County. 

Kayak or Canoe the Flint River or Shiawassee River

Explore the river in a kayak or canoe can be great fun. In Flint & Genesee there are plenty of places with kayak and canoe launches including Atlas County park, Bluegill Boat Launch, Linden County Park, Richfield County Park, Stepping Stones Falls and Walleye Pike Boat Launch. For those who come prepared with their own kayaks or canoes, these places are perfect for getting on the water.

For those who need to rent a kayak or canoe for the day there are two great places in Flint & Genesee to do so. In Flint, Kayak Flint located next to Tenacity Brewing offers kayak and canoe rentals as well as guided tours of the Flint River. In southern part of the county, Linden’s Sunshine Kayak Rentals offers kayaks and canoes for rent on the Shiawassee River. 

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